You might be thinking, “How can serving others become a sin?” It’s not always about what we do but why we do it. When we serve from a place of genuine love for God and people, we’re on the right path. But if our motivation is recognition or validation, then pride has taken the lead—and that’s a problem.
Pride is a tricky thing because it’s invisible to the one who holds it. In your own eyes, it’s easy to think, “I’m just confident; I don’t struggle with pride.” But by the time you see pride in yourself, it’s often so entrenched that it feels like an uphill battle to turn back. Don’t let it reach that point—guard your heart from pride.
Let’s take a lesson from the old metaphor of boiling a frog. If you throw a frog into boiling water, it’ll jump out immediately. But if you place it in lukewarm water and slowly turn up the heat, the frog will stay put until it’s too late. Pride works the same way: it starts small, so subtly that we hardly notice it, but over time it can boil up until we’re unrecognizable—even to ourselves.
Sometimes I catch myself doing things for attention, even if it’s under the guise of helping others. That’s not the right reason to do anything. Pride can creep in on anyone, and no one is immune. This isn’t just a celebrity problem; it affects all of us. Look at how often celebrities perform acts of kindness but make sure everyone knows about it. Did they do it purely out of love, or was it to boost their image? Maybe it’s a bit of both. The point is, their actions speak volumes.
If we aren’t vigilant, pride can lead us down paths we never intended to take. It can bring ruin to everything we hold dear and cloud our hearts with selfish motives. The Bible warns, “Pride comes before the fall.” This fall doesn’t happen overnight; it starts with small, seemingly harmless actions that grow into something toxic. Left unchecked, pride becomes a disease that takes hold of our hearts.
When pride takes root, people may notice a change in us. Close friends might gently point it out, but we may brush it off or even take offense, thinking they just don’t understand. If we don’t recognize the pride in ourselves, we risk losing the very relationships that matter most. We might even start boasting about all the “good” we’re doing, pushing others away and blaming them for the disconnect. Pride has us saying things like, “It’s their loss,” when maybe we should do a gut check instead.
God sometimes places people in our lives to correct and guide us, but pride can keep us from listening, making us feel like we’re being judged. I’ve been there. When someone has pulled me aside to suggest I phrase something differently, my initial reaction is often frustration. But when I take a moment, I often realize they’re right. I’ve had to learn the humility to say, “I was wrong!”
Now, discernment is key here. Not all correction is helpful or done with good intentions. Sometimes people correct us out of their own pride, or because our truth struck a nerve. Listen to their words, pray over them, and seek God’s guidance. If you have trusted mentors, run it by them. They can help you see if there’s something worth adjusting or not.
Ultimately, none of us are above the temptation of pride. It’s human nature to crave acknowledgment, but guarding your heart against pride requires daily effort. Every day, choose humility over self-centeredness and love over attention.
Reflection Points:
Check Your Motives: Why do you serve others? Genuine love for God and people should be at the heart of it—not the desire for attention or validation.
Recognize the Subtlety of Pride: Pride often slips in unnoticed, much like the slow boil of a frog in water. Watch for its small beginnings before it grows.
Listen to Correction with Discernment: Pride makes it hard to accept feedback, but God often speaks through others to help us stay on track.
Stay Humble and Guard Your Heart: Pride can change who we are, pushing others away and keeping us from God. Practice humility daily to keep pride at bay.
Living a God-Inspired Life,
Chris Benton